Flanging-machine.



PATENTED JAN. 21, 1908.

C. STEOHER.

FLANGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19,1906

5 SHBETSSHEET 1.

PATENTED JAN. 21, 1908v O.STEGHER.

FLANGING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 19. 1906.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

No. 877,135. PATBNTED JAN. 21, 1908.

c. STBGHER.

FLANGING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IYILED JULY 19.1906.

5 SHEETS-SHEET a.

llllillllllilll 4.

l Lllllili'l'fi PATENTED JAN. 21, 1908.

O. STEOHER.

FLANGING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 19.1906.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

No. 377,135. PATENTED JAN. 21, 1908.

' G. STEGHER.

FLANGING MACHINE.

APPLIQATION FILED JULY 19.1906.

mums-slum 5-.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES STEOHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLANGINGQMAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1908.

Applicationfilod JuIyflQLIQOG- Serial No- 326,865.

To all whomi may concern: Be it known that 1, CHARLES Srnonnn, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flanging- Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the same, reference being had to t 1e accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flanging machines and more particularly to amachine adapted for forming flanges on can bodies preparatory to attaching the heads thereto.

The invention belongs to that class of flanging machines in which 'a can body is engaged between revolving chucks and caused to rotate against a die thereby forming the fianges on the body.

The object of the invention is to provide a The invention consists in the matters here-' inafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the ap ended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the opposite side thereof. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in transverse section. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the supporting frame. Fig. '6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the chuck carrying mchanism. "Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the pressure chain or belt. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of said chain and one of 'the sprockets therefor with parts removed. Figs. 9 and 10 are side elevations of the links or blocks forming the compression members of said chain. Fig. 11' is an enlarged fragmen-, tary section Illustrating the operatlon of turning the flange. Fig. 12 is an inner plan view of the pressure chain. Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating one form of die for forming a head on the can body. Fig. 14 is a similar view of another form thereof.

As shown in said drawings: the machine is supported upon a frame of any preferred material and construction and comprises a base A and upright side members A and A one of which, A as shown, is adjustable laterally of the base with respect to the other by means of bolts a which engage through the bottom thereof and through slots 0/ in said base. Said side frame members A and A are provided with apertured lugs (L -a the latter of which is screw threaded and adapted to receive an adjusting shaft A which has threaded engagement at one end therein. The other end of said shaft extends through the lug a and is rovided with a setnut a. which engages on t e outer side of the lug a and with a collar or flange a which engages the inner side of said lug and act when said shaft is rotated to move the frame member A. laterally to or from the member A dependent upon the direction of rotation. i

Rigidly engaged upon the inner faces of the side members'AA in any preferred manner but, as shown, by means ofbolts bb and above the adjusting shaft A are the horizontal bars or ways B which may be of any desired construction and material and are provided with upwardly directed parallel flanges I) having shoulders I) on the inner faces thereof and forming guide ways for the pressure chains C one of which is carried on each bar. Integral arms 17 extend longitudinally beyond the ends of the ways B and journalled therein at the rear end of the machine are the sprocket shafts B which as shown are stud shafts extending through said arms and are provided with adjustable bearings b for the purpose of adjusting the tension of said chains C. J ournaled in the arm b at the forward end of the machine is the sprocket shaft B and enga ed on said sprocket shafts Band B are thesprocket wheels B which as shown are hexagonal and provided on alternate faces with one and two cogs respectively, the former b ofwhich are situated centrally of the face and the latter b at the ends theme: as shown 'n1ore clearly in Fig. 8. Said pressure chain comprises a plurality of'links-or blocks C and C approximately recta'n latera provide a shoulder c and a lad e c and when i blocks fit closely together at their ends there-. by forming an unbroken track or {bearing sursaid chains are passing along t e ways B. the

face.

The blocks or links C as shown are provided at each end thereof on their inner faces with an apertured lug the adjacent faces I -of which diverge from the face of the link and between which the cogs b of the sprocket Wheels B en age.

lugs c which engage between the cogs b of The links are provided centrallywith "said Wheels. The links or block'sC and C are articulated together by means of link bars or plates 0 which are piyoted'thereto by means of pintles 0, at one end to, the lugs cv of the blocks C and at the other end to the lugs 0 ofthe blocks 0', and plates c are also engaged at the sides of the lugs c of. the blocks 0 by means of said pintles and together with the plates .0 formrecesses for the co s of the sprocket wheels. Die ar frames D and D" are ad'ustably engaged at the u per ends of said si e frame which projects beyondthe die bar frames and is rigidlybolted at oneend to the die .bar frame D and at the other end is pro- -the die bar frame D. I At each en of said" 45,...

mem ers A an A by means of bolts (1 which 'enga e" in vertical slots in said frame members t ereby permitting vertical adjustment of said framesf Extending-trans ver's'ely of the machine is a beam or brace A vided with a longitudinal slot of through which extends a bolt a7 which is en aged in beam A is provideda bolt a whieh extends downwardly and hasthreaded engagement D-D are each provided'with'a collar a die bar frames are adjl st a on-the'inner face of said die bar in a lug The bolts 0 on the die bar frame frame.

beneath the beam A by means of which said ed vertically when the bolts (1 are loosener Said die bar frames are each provided at their top with an indie bars D are engaged, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, by means of bolts dt which extend through vertical slots d in.

said die bar frames into engagement with the die bars D and adapting said bars to be adjusted vertically. Set screws d. extend faces with downwardly directed shoulders d 7 the former of vfi'iich forms a recess 'in lower or operating edge d of which is'reduced in thickness on the side adjacent said.

die bar and behind which theflange on the can body is formed.

The die bar frames D and D as shown are which is rigidly engaged the die D the provided with longitudinally directed intel- Sprocket wheels E are the can bodies are conveyed through the machine. bars or links f-f spaced a distance apart Saidchains F as shown compriselaterally by 'means of the pintles with which they are articulated. Journaled in said links f are the chuck shafts f 3 which pro-- ject outwardly beyond the chains and are provided ontheir inner or adjacent ends with chuck heads F F. Said chuck heads as shown more clearly in Fig. 11, comprise a hub f having a peripheral bearing flange f thereon adapted to bear against the shoulders d on the die bars and the shoulders 0 on the pressure chains, C and by means of which said chucks are rotated. On the inner faces of said flanges f are rovided shoulders f of a width approximate y equal to the width of the flange it is desired to form on the can die D.

' Rigidly engaged on the forward ends of the die bar frames D and D by means of forwardly and upwardly directed brackets g is the feed chute G comprising side members g wl. *h as shown are rovided with transverse slots in which are a justably engaged on the inner faces of said side 'members, an le iron guides 9? between which the can bodies are fed to the machine. and forwardly from the lower end of said side members 9 are the guides g which are curved concentrically with the sprocket wheels E and act to'guide the can bodies between the chucks.

Rigid ly engaged on the. sprocket shaft E adjacent the die bar frames are the notched feed wheels H which are in position to receive the can bodies as they leave the feed chute. J ournaled in a bracket arm H extending forwardly from the die bar frame D is a shaft h on the innerend of which and positioned centrally between. the chains F- is a notched feed wheel H which acts in conjunction with the feed wheels H to deliverthe can bodies. to the chucks.

. Outwardly and upwardly directed Extending downwardly cam guides 1-1 are supported on the forward endof the machine by means of brackets vicar ried on the forward ends of the die bar frames which engage the chuck shafts f and force the chucks inwardly engaging the can bodies receive can bodies.

For the purpose ofd-riving the machine a shaft K is journaledin a bearing bracket 7c on. the: side frame member A and is rovided on itsouter end with a drive pulley and on its inner end with a pinion k? which meshes with a gear K carried on the sprocket shaft B A pinion k is carried on said sprocket shaft 13* and drives intermeshing gears k -k journaled on a bracket 7c on the arm 6 A gearK is rigidly engaged on the sprocket shaft E and is driven by the gear k and opcrates the chuck carrying chains and the feed wheels H. A cofrespondinggear K is carried-on the shaft h and intermeshes with the gears K and drivesthe feed wheel H If it is desired to provide a bead or shoulder on the can body to afford a stop or abutment for a can cover one of the dies D may be removed and a die D" or D substituted therefor as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Said die D as shown is adapted to form a head on the cantbod y and is provided with a relatively broad bearing faced in .which is a groove corres onding to the shape of the head to be formed. Chuck heads 1? are substituted in the chains F for the heads F F and which as shown are each provided with a bearing flange f as before described'and with a hub f 7 having aperipheral rib f 8 thereon complemental with and adapted to engage in the groove in the face-of the die D The dies D are adapted to provide a shoulder in the can body and to turn the end of the body slightly inwardly to permit easy insertion of the cover and for this purpose said dies are provided on their faces (1 with shoulders d and d as shown more clearly in Fig. 14 and chuch heads F are provided with hubs or hearing faces f 9 com plemental therewith. I

- The operation is as follows: The side frame members A and A are adjusted laterally to admit the desired length of can bodies between the chucks and the die bar frames D and- D are adjusted vertically so that chucks of the-required size will have their flan es f in engagementboth with the shoul ers (Z on the die bars and'with the shoulders c on the pressure chains.

i'This vertical adjustment of the die bar frames is accomplished by loosening the bottsdand retracting thebolt a on the side 55"bolt was? the frame member A thereby" frame -me'mber-. A and then-rotating the raising and lowerin the die bar frame D and by means of t e beam A raising orregister with oppositely dis osed chucks.

As said chucks move forward y their shafts are enga ed by the cam guides II which force sai chucks inwardly into the ends of I the can bodies and into position for the flanges f to engage on the pressure chainsand die bars. Inasmuch as the chuck carrying chalns and pressure chains move at the same rate of s eed the chucks are rotated against the s oulders d and the ends of the can bodies which rest upon the shoulders f of the chucks are turned outwardly by the depending edges of the dies D? as said bodies are rotated with the chucks. As the chucks reach the rear end of .the machine the flanges f thereof are engaged by the cam guides 11 which force the chucks outwardly releasing the can bodies and spacing the chucks to again receive the bodies at the feed end of the machine. When it is desired to form a bead or shoulder in the can body dies having in their faces the desired configuration are substituted for one or both the dies D, and the bodies rolled along the same as before described.

Obviously a flanging machine constructed in accordance with my invention is capable of simultaneously operating u on a plu- I rality of can bodies and of orming the flange at each end thereof at the same operation, and obviously the machine may be quickly and accurately adjusted to the requirements of can bodies of various sizes.

. I claim as my invention:

'1. In a machine of the class described the combination with a base, of adjustable side members engaged thereto a removable die bar engaged to said frame, an adjustable depending die engaged to said die bar, a pressure chain in vertical alinement with said die, and a chuck engaged between the pressure chain and die bar and having a flange thereon engaged between the die bar and said depending die.

2. In a machine of the class described the combination with an adjustable frame,

adjustable chuck carrying chains engageding die engaged to'the die bar and engaging the flange of said chuck between the samei-ng a shoulder supported'by and ;movable along 'the guideway, oppositely disposed" thereto, a horizontal the shoulders of the die bar and chain-and rolled along the same, sai chucks and the die bar and means contacting the chucks toforce the same oppositely to release the can bod 3. In a device o the class described the combination with a frame of horizontal parallel chuck carryincgy chains engaged shoulder adjustably en aged to said frame,

a guideway beneath t e same in vertical alinement therewith, a' pressure chain havchucks movable between. the die bar and pressure chain, a flange thereon engaged by ressure adapted to engage a can body therebetween and a die removably secured to the die bar extending below the flange onsaid chucks and adapted to flange the end of the can therebetween.

4. In a machine of the class described the combination with a laterally adjustable frame, a die bar extending longitudinally thereof, a guideway' in vertical alinement therewith, a pressure chain supported by saidguide way, oppositely disposed chuck carrying chains, chucks engaged thereto, a flange on each chuck engaged between the pressure chain and die bar and rotated thereby, a notched wheel adapted to deliver can bodies tosuccessive pairs of chucks, and

a die engaging on the inside of said chuck adapted to flange the end of saidcan there 1 below said shou ders, parallel ways beneath said die bars, pressure chains on said Ways havingshoulders on their upper faces, chuck carrying chains supported on the frame adjacent each die bar, transversely movable chucks journaled thereon, adapted to engage in the ends of can-bodies and-rotate them against saiddies, a peripheral flange on each chuck adapted to be rotatively engaged between the shoulders on said die bars and pressure chains and guides a u g chucks to release the can bodies therefrom. 6. In a device of the class, described the combination with a-frame of parallel diev bars adjust-ably engaged on the top thereof, a die engaged to each die bar and extending belowv the same, arallel ways carried on the frame in ver'tica alinement with said die bar s, sprocket wheels journaled at the ends of said bars and ways, a pressure chain .driven by the wheels on each way, blocks thereon each ected shoulder forming a continuous shoul- Eppvided on its innerface with an upwardly bar having a der above each way, sprocket chains driven by the wheels on each die bar, oppositel disposed chucks therein each hav ng a ange. thereon adapted to be rolled between adja: cent faces of said. die. bars and pressure chains, and ositively actuated means for moving said 0 u'cks outwardlyand inwardly.

- 7-.,In a device of the class described the combination with a base, of .side frame members thereon, means for adjusting saidside members with respect toeach-other, parallel oppositely dis osed die barsadjusta ly engaged on sai side members, downwardly facing dies thereon, a grooved way in vertical alinement with eachdie bar and arallel therewith, a chain adapted to trave along bars adapted to move saidchucks inwardly and outwardly.

8. In a device of the class described, the

combination with'adjustable frame members, of parallel ways thereon, parallel dies above said Lways, means for adjusting said dies vertically, a pressure chain adapted to I travel along said ways, a sprocket chain adjacent each die, rotative chuck shafts slidably engaged thereon, achuck on the inner end ofeach shaft-adapted to engage a can body, .a peripheral flange; on' each chuck adapted to be engaged between the die and pressure chain and rollthe canbody along the dies, a shoulder on said flange adapted to turn the end of the can body up behind said dies, means for driving said pressure chains and chuck carrying chains, means for feeding can bodies to said chucks, and curved guides at each end of the machine adapted to throw the chucks into and out of engagement with said bodies.

9. In adevice of the class described, the combination with a frame, of die bars thereon adjustable both laterally and vertically, 'adie on each bar affording a recess between the die and the b."- r, a chuck carrying chain adjacent each bar, rotative chuck heads therein, means on said heads adapted to turn the ends of the can bodies upwardly in said recesses, and acontinuously driven chain adapted to engage the chuck'heads and roll them and the can bodies along the dies.

10.. In a fianging machine the combination with a die bar of a die engaged thereto affording arecess therebetween, pressure chains movable longitudinally beneath said die bar, and oppositely disposed chucks movable between said die bar and pressure chain adapted to'engage a can body therebetween and together with the die to flange the ends of said can body upwardlyin said recess.

111. In a device of the class described the combination with a die bar of a pressure chain positioned below the same, oppositely disposed chucks movable between said die. an

pressure chain adapted to engage a can body therebetween, a die engaged to and depending from the die bar, aflange on each chuck adapted to flange the ends of said can.

each pair adapted to engage a can body therebetween and to roll the end of the can body upwardly between the chucks and die to flange the same for reception of the head, a notched wheel delivering can bodies to the pairs of chucks and cam guides engaging the pairs of chucks and forcing the same oppositely and outwardly.

13. In a machine of the class described the combination with a horizontal die bar of a die engaged thereto affording longitudinal grooves therebetween, a pressure chain parallel with and movable beneath said die bar, rotating chucks engaged between said die bar and chain and engaging a can body.

therebetween, said chucks having a flange engaged between the die bar and die adapted to roll the ends of the can body upwardly in said groove against the dies to form a flange at either end of the can body.

14. I a machine of the class described the combination with a pressure chain of a die bar parallel therewith, oppositely disposed chucks adapted to engage a can body therebetween, each having a flange thereon, said flange adapted to be engaged between the die bar and pressure chain, positively timed mechanism adapted to deliver the can bodies between oppositely disposed chucks, a die engaged to each die bar and bearing on the can body inside the chuck and coacting with the chuck to form one end of said can bodyv for reception of the ends and means contacting the flanges of said chucks to release the can bodies therefrom.

. 15. In a machine of the class described the combination with parallel die bars, a pressure chain movable longitudinally beneath each'die bar, a die carried on each die bar providing a recess therebetween, rot

tween said die bars and pressure chainadapt-- ed to carry a can body therebetween and toand pressure chain, a positively operated tin oppositely disposed chucks engaged be notched wheel adapted to deliver the-can bodies to said chucks, a die engaged to each die bar affording a recess therebetween and.

coacting with each chuck adapted to flange the ends of said can body upwardly in said recess for the reception of the end pieces and means adapted to engage the chucks and 5 force the same oppositely to release the can body therefrom.

17. In a machine of the class described the combination with horizontal adjustable die bars, dies engaged thereto, a way positioned.

in vertical alinement beneath each die bar", a pressure chain carried in a groove on each Way", oppositely disposed chucks each having abearing flange thereon rotated between said die ldars and pressure chains, a notched wheel adapted to deliver a can body to said chucks in successive order, said chuck and die adapted to flange either end of'the can body and means adapted to engage the chuck to re-' lease the can body therefrom.

18. In a machine of the class described the combination with an adjustable die bar, an adjustable pressure chain beneath the same, a chuck having a flanged head, said flange engaged between'the die bar and pressure chain and adapted to roll the chuckalongthe die bar, a removable die on said die bar eX- tending below and inside of said flange and adapted to flange the end of the can body therebetween and a cam guide engaging the flange of each chuck at the delivery end of phe machine to release the can body thererom.

19. In a machine of the class described the combination with a die bar of an adjustable die engaged thereto and affording a space therebetween, oppositely disposed rotating.

chucks, an adjustable chute, a notched wheel ada ted to deliver can bodies betweenoppO- site y disposed chucks, a guide directing the can bodies to said wheel, means actuating the chuck to engage the can bodies against the dies thereby flanging the ends of said can bodies in said space for the reception of the heads, and means adapted to engage each chuck to release the can bodies therefrom.

20. In amachine of the class described the combination with oppositely disposed rotating chucks, a flange on each, a hub on each chuck, oppositely disposed longitudinal means engaging the flange of said chuck and holding the chucks in unvarying relation, positively operated means adapted to deliver a can .body between each pair of chucks, means forcing the chucks inwardly to engage the hubs in the ends of the can body, a die bearing against each can body a distance from its end and against which the ends of said can body are rolled thereby forming the same to receive a can head and positive means releasing each chuck from the can body.

21. In a device of the class described the 'eoxnbination with en'adjustable die bar, a resaid hub together with the die adapted to 10 movable die carried thereon, a pressure chain form a bead adjacent the end of the can bod movable longitudinally beneath said die bar, In testimony whereof I have hereunto su an adjustable shaft, :1 sprocket Wheeltherescribed my'name in the presence of two subon carrying said chain, oppositely dis osed scribing'witnesses. chucks adapted to engage a can body here- CHARLES STECHER'. between and having an inwardly directed 'Witnesses: hub on each and a flange,'said'flange engaged C. W. HiLLS,

' betweensaid die bar and pressure chain, and -WM. 0. SMITH. 

